 You are a reporter, and you are about to conduct the world’s smallest interview.  The question is: What is ONE thing you could NOT live without?  You will ask this question to 25 DIFFERENT people, from various grade levels.  If that person has already been interviewed, you must find someone else.  This will force YOU to talk to people. This will force the interviewee to answer with only one word.  Good luck, and go meet someone new!  You are a reporter, and you are about to conduct the world’s smallest interview.  The question is: What is ONE thing you could NOT live without?  You will ask this question to 25 DIFFERENT people, from various grade levels.  If that person has already been interviewed, you must find someone else.  This will force YOU to talk to people. This will force the interviewee to answer with only one word.  Good luck, and go meet someone new!

Interviewing 101 Quoting and Paraphrasing for Newspaper Articles

Key Words  Source – the person or people you interview and quote in stories  Attribution – the source or sources of information in your stories accompanied by correct identification information  Quote – to repeat what a source said  Paraphrase – a restatement or rewording of what a source said  Source – the person or people you interview and quote in stories  Attribution – the source or sources of information in your stories accompanied by correct identification information  Quote – to repeat what a source said  Paraphrase – a restatement or rewording of what a source said

Quotes They move the story telling along. “I waited in the lunch line forever,” Jill Smith said. “Then this kid rudely jumped in front of me.” They move the story telling along. “I waited in the lunch line forever,” Jill Smith said. “Then this kid rudely jumped in front of me.”

Quotes They can add color or flavor to your story. “I wanted to throw my lunch on him,” Jill Smith said. They can add color or flavor to your story. “I wanted to throw my lunch on him,” Jill Smith said.

Quotes They can legitimize the information you are presenting. “Lunch line skippers will earn themselves a detention,” discipline coordinator Carlo Sanchez said. They can legitimize the information you are presenting. “Lunch line skippers will earn themselves a detention,” discipline coordinator Carlo Sanchez said.

Quotes They can state or sum up information that just can’t be rephrased. For examples, quote a source who uses an analogy. “Lunch line skippers are like bad drivers who cut you off and couldn’t care less,” Jane Smith said. They can state or sum up information that just can’t be rephrased. For examples, quote a source who uses an analogy. “Lunch line skippers are like bad drivers who cut you off and couldn’t care less,” Jane Smith said.

Quotes  You want to keep your quotes fairly short, about 2 or 3 sentences maximum at one time.  Break up a longer quote by putting the attribution in the middle.  “If I’m really hungry, I sneak in ahead of people,” said Billy Fandango, who claims he jumps the line once a week. “I try to find a friend in the line who will let me in. I know I won’t get caught.”  You want to keep your quotes fairly short, about 2 or 3 sentences maximum at one time.  Break up a longer quote by putting the attribution in the middle.  “If I’m really hungry, I sneak in ahead of people,” said Billy Fandango, who claims he jumps the line once a week. “I try to find a friend in the line who will let me in. I know I won’t get caught.”

Quotes  All punctuation goes INSIDE the quotes.  All attribution words should be in PAST tense.  Use the source’s name first then the attribution word, unless you are adding extra information.  “I love pizza days,” Jane Smith said.  “I love pizza days,” said Jane Smith, who eats cafeteria food three times a week.  All punctuation goes INSIDE the quotes.  All attribution words should be in PAST tense.  Use the source’s name first then the attribution word, unless you are adding extra information.  “I love pizza days,” Jane Smith said.  “I love pizza days,” said Jane Smith, who eats cafeteria food three times a week.

Attribution Words  Your attribution word should be neutral and in PAST tense.  Use only SAID, TOLD, EXPLAINED.  Stay away from YELLED, EXCLAIMED, SMILED, FROWNED.  You want a word that implies only that the person uttered the words, not how those words were uttered.  Your attribution word should be neutral and in PAST tense.  Use only SAID, TOLD, EXPLAINED.  Stay away from YELLED, EXCLAIMED, SMILED, FROWNED.  You want a word that implies only that the person uttered the words, not how those words were uttered.

Paraphrasing  Paraphrase can move a story along and set up a story like a quote.  Paraphrases can introduce a source before you quote him/her.  If you can take what a source said and explain it in better terms, then you should paraphrase the information and attribute it to the source.  Information that is factual but not common knowledge that is received from a source should be paraphrased and attributed to the source.  Paraphrase can move a story along and set up a story like a quote.  Paraphrases can introduce a source before you quote him/her.  If you can take what a source said and explain it in better terms, then you should paraphrase the information and attribute it to the source.  Information that is factual but not common knowledge that is received from a source should be paraphrased and attributed to the source.

Paraphrasing  A common knowledge fact, for example would be that George Washington was the first U.S. President.  “The Girl Scouts sold $1,000 worth of cookies,” said Emma Smith, leader of Scout Troop No. 2.  This is a matter of fact, and not an opinion, therefore the material should not by paraphrased.  A common knowledge fact, for example would be that George Washington was the first U.S. President.  “The Girl Scouts sold $1,000 worth of cookies,” said Emma Smith, leader of Scout Troop No. 2.  This is a matter of fact, and not an opinion, therefore the material should not by paraphrased.

Paraphrasing  You may paraphrase the opinions of a source as long as you attribute them.  Emma Smith said she believes Girl Scouts is an important organization that teaches values to young girls.  You may paraphrase the opinions of a source as long as you attribute them.  Emma Smith said she believes Girl Scouts is an important organization that teaches values to young girls.

Partial Quotes  A partial quote is a blend of the reporter’s words and the source’s words.  Jane Smith said she sees lunch line skippers all the time but “doesn’t want to bother with turning in those rude kids.”  The source’s exact words are what appears in quotes.  A partial quote is a blend of the reporter’s words and the source’s words.  Jane Smith said she sees lunch line skippers all the time but “doesn’t want to bother with turning in those rude kids.”  The source’s exact words are what appears in quotes.

Final Thoughts Remember, you are the reporter and need to exercise good judgment when deciding what’s worth quoting and what should be paraphrased. If the source said something interesting, it’s probably worth quoting. You should use an equal amount of quotes and paraphrases. Remember, you are the reporter and need to exercise good judgment when deciding what’s worth quoting and what should be paraphrased. If the source said something interesting, it’s probably worth quoting. You should use an equal amount of quotes and paraphrases.